Understanding rare events is crucial in modeling how complex many body systems organize, leading to diverse phenomena such as crystal nucleation and growth, chemical reactions in solution, self-assembly of macromolecules, protein folding and dynamics of disordered systems. Related phenomena occur in quantum field theory and cosmological phase transitions that may set the large-scale structure of the universe. Unifying theoretical concepts in this area require effective coarse-grained descriptions and non-equilibrium statistical mechanical methodologies. This program will bring together key people working in this area aiming at the development of new theoretical concepts and computational tools.
The October workshop on Random Events is the last in a series that began in Fall 2009

The program will focus on the properties of graphene, a single-atom-thick layer of carbon. Discovered in 2004, graphene has quickly become one of the most active research fronts in condensed matter physics, owing to its fundamental importance, as well as the potential it offers to future nano-electronics applications. Originally, the interest in graphene was largely driven by its fascinating electronic properties: electrons moving in the background of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb graphene lattice become effectively massless, and behave like relativistic Dirac particles. More recently, researchers focused on the more complex many-body effects in graphene, as well as on understanding the sources of disorder present in graphene samples. Many prototype graphene devices have already been demonstrated, however, two major challenges for graphene nano-electronics remain: developing a reliable fabrication process and finding ways to control its electronic properties. The goal of our program is to learn about recent developments and open questions in graphene field, focusing both on the basic science and potential applications of this remarkable material.

The last few years have been a truly special time for condensed matter physics marked by several unexpected discoveries which gave rise to whole new areas of research, as well as by rapid progress in the more established directions. The most notable discoveries include graphene, the first atomically thick material with unusual Dirac-like excitations and, more recently, a class of materials with strong spin-orbit interactions, which host topologically-protected surface states with Dirac-like dispersion. In addition, theories of topologically ordered systems with excitations which are neither fermions or bosons, play a very special role, both due to their fundamental importance and potential applications. An important feature that all of these systems share is that the essential physics is two-dimensional. In the Program "New Frontiers in Low-Dimensional Systems" we would like to cover some of the recent developments in low-dimensional systems,

This workshop will focus on the status and results from current direct detection experiments. The preliminary agenda includes eight experimental talks (CDMS, CoGeNT, CRESST, DAMA, DMTPC, XENON100, PICASSO, WARP), along with a discussion of new theoretical ideas and models. There will also be time set aside for informal discussions.

The inflationary theory of the universe, first introduced thirty years ago, has had a profound influence on our views of the evolution of the universe and its relation to fundamental physics. The theory has motivated a series of observational and experimental tests that have, thus far, confirmed many of the predictions derived in the 1980s. As a result, the inflationary model is widely regarded today as the leading theory for explaining the origin of the large-scale structure of the universe. At the same time, there have been concerns about the foundations of the inflationary theory: Does the theory really work as advertized? Are the predictions made in the 1980s still the predictions of the inflationary model as we understand it today? Does the inflationary model make any predictions at all? Curiously, even though many of these concerns were raised when the inflationary theory was still in its infancy, many have not been resolved or even fully elucidated. PCTS and the Perimeter Institute will have a combination of small organizational meeting (at PCTS) and conference (at Perimeter) to explore these issues.

*The PCTS meeting is for the conference organizers only. The conference at the Perimeter Institute will be announced shortly after the organizational meeting. Return here or go to the Perimeter website to find the announcement and information.

EARTH AND STARS

"Seismology of the Earth and Stars"May 4-62011

Program Organizers: Shravan Hanasoge, Yang Luo & Jeroen Tromp

The idea of using waves to probe the optically invisible interiors of objects has proven to be highly successful in determining the structure of widely different media such as earth, Sun, and with the advent of astro-seismology, a vast spectrum of stars. Despite the disparate paths these fields have taken, exacerbated by the few opportunities for interdisciplinary conference, a surprising degree of unity in the ideas and techniques still persists. In particular, the direct analogy between ambient noise tomography of the earth and helioseismology has allowed the development of mutually beneficial ideas. In light of recent progress in these areas, the proposed workshops are not only timely but may lead to the emergence of novel ideas and new collaborations.

The importance of understanding how and why stars acquire differential rotation manifests itself in many ways. The convergence of helioseismology results of the space-based Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) and terrestrial Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG) has provided hydrodynamicists with a unique oppportunity: the internal rotation velocity of a turbulent, spinning fluid is now known with great accuracy. In this multi-disciplinary meeting, observers, numericists, and theorists will be brought together for intense discussion and the generation of new ideas.